Heated drapery lining



Aug. 9, 1966 N. LEVINSON HEATED DRAPERY LINING 5 SheetsSheec 1 Filed July 6, 1965 WEE;32 2%:22:22:52525:: a

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INVENTOR: Nev-HAN Aer/-50 BYfl a g Aug. 9, 1966 N. LEVINSON HEATED DRAPERY LINING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. A/HTHHN Lsywswv BY;

United States Patent 3,265,864 HEATED DRAPERY LINING Nathan Levinson, North Dartmouth, Mass., assignor to Cameo Curtains, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 6, 1965, Ser. No. 472,755 3 Claims. (Cl. 219-545) This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Serial No. 279,745, filed May 13, 1963, now abandoned. This invention relates to draperies, and also to drapery linings which are optionally attached to an unlined drapery, an example of such lining being disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,047,060, dated July 31, 1962.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a heating means, such as an undulated or sinuous heated wire loop, applied over the rear surface of a drapery panel or over the inside surface of a lining panel, and which will be concealed between the lining panel and the body of the drapery when the lining is in a position of use, whereby the area around the drapery will be warmed and the chill often encountered around a window will be materially reduced.

It is another object of the invention to provide means by which the heating coils in two or more drapery or lining panels placed in side-by-side relation, can be coupled together to thereby provide the effect of a single heating loop extending over the several united panels.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the disposition of a sinuous or undulated loop of heating wire disposed over the rear face of a drapery panel or the inside face of a lining panel and attached thereto by the arrangement of the linear portions of its undulations within lengthy pockets produced on the panel by overcast threads provided in the weave of the fabric which constitutes the lining panel. The invention further contemplates the employment of thermostatic control for the regulation of current to the heating loop, and also includes the provision of special connection or coupling means by which the wire in one of the panels can be both mechanically and electrically connected to the heating wire of an adjacent panel.

With these and other objects to be set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

The present invention may be incorporated into either a drapery panel or a drapery lining panel. For the sake of convenience, however, only a lining will be illustrated and described, but it is understood that what is said of the lining applies equally to a drapery.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein anillustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

FIG. 1 is a view of the improved lining panel, looking at the inside face of the same, and to which the heating wiring has been applied;

FIG. 2 is a view of a special connector or bridge;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the pockets through which parts of the heating wire extend;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows several of the lining panels disposed in side-by-side relation, preparatory to being coupled together;

FIG. 6 shows the connector or bridge for use with any of the panels shown in FIG. \5, and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. l6 of the drawings, 10 shows a lining panel, preferably composed of a heat-resistant woven textile material, such as Fiberglas, and adapted to "ice be disposed over the rear face of a drapery to cover and protect the same and add body to the hanging. As shown in Patent No. 3,047,060 the lining panel is supported from the conventional drapery hooks adapted to pass through a series of apertures 12 extended through the upper hem 13 of the lining panel.

Arranged across the inner face of the lining panel 10 is the heating wire 14. This Wire is suitably insulated and is arranged in a sinuous or undulated manner on the panel, and in the form shown it is provided in two sections disclosed respectively at 15 and 16. The section 15 is the one which is provided with the undulations, and it has one end attached to a fastening element 17 (preferably of the snap fastener type) mounted along the side hem 11 of the panel, and it has its other end attached to one of the terminals of a connection plug 18 secured to the lining panel in any suitable manner. The plug 18 may contain a thermostatic control of any suitable known type and it is adapted for coupling to a socket connector 19 attached to a cable 20 extending from a source of electric current.

The second section 16 of the wiring has one end attached at 21 to a fastening element similar to that shown at 17, also mounted along the side hem 11, and the opposite end of the wire section 16 is attachedto the second terminal of the connection plug 18.

The two fastening elements 17 and 21 are spaced apart so that the continuity of the wiring is interrupted. In order to form the wiring into a continuous loop, a connector or bridge 26 such as that shown in FIG. 2 is used. This connector consists of a strip 22 composed of fabric or other suitable material, and carries spaced fastener elements 23 and 24 which are complementary to those shown at 17, and 21 on the lining panel. They are properly spaced apart for separable engagement with the latter fastening elements. The connector is provided with a Wire 25 extending between the fastener elements 23 and 24, with the ends of such wire secured thereto.

It Will be apparent from the above description that when the connector or bridge 26 is coupled to the lining panel by the engagement of its fastener elements 23 and 24 with those shown at 17 and 21, the wiring sections will be electrically connected through the wire 25, and a continuous, sinuous loop starting .and ending at the plug 18 will be the result. Thus, when current is directed through such resultant loop, the wiring will be heated to a degree permitted .by any thermostatic arrangement with which the construction mayv be provided.

Pockets 28 are provided on the inside face of the panel 10 for the reception of the linear stretches of the wiring. In accordance with this invention, each of the pockets 2-8 is formed by the employment of overcast threads 29 integral with the weave. These threads 29 form loops under which the linear parts of the undulations of the wires are retained and which tend to hold the wiring flatly in contact with the inner surface of the fabric of the panel as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. An advantage of this arrangement is that the pockets 28 can be formed in the weaving of the fabric of which the panel is composed and also that no stitching appears on the outer surface 30 of the panel so that such surface presents an unmarred appearance.

In order to provide a lining of required width for various curtains or draperies, it is sometimes desirable to join together two or more of the lining panels. When this is done, it is necessary to couple together the heating Wiring provided on these panels. The manner in which this is done is shown in FIG. 5.

Therein the panel 10, when used alone, has its fastener elements 17 and 21 connected by the medium of a connector or bridge 31 constructed like that shown at 26 in FIG. 2.

The panel shown M32 is constructed generally similar to the panel 10, and it has wiring composedof the two sections shown respectively at 33 and 34. The section 34 has one end connected to a fastener element 35 arranged in the .side hem 36 of the panel 32 and has its other end attached to .a fastener element 37 provided in the opposite side hem 38 of the panel 32. The wiring section 33, undulated in a manner similar to the wiring section 15, has one end attached to the fastener element 39 and has its opposite end attached to the fastener element 40. When the fastener elements 17 and 21 are connected to the fastener elements 39 and 35, and the bridge 31 is connected across the terminals designated by the fastener elements 37 and 40, a continuous loop extending across both of the panels and 32 will be the result, and both panels will be heated when the current' is caused to flow.

In similar manner, a third panel, such as that shown at 41, can be attached to the terminals 37 and 40, the panel 41 being provided Withfastener elements 42 and 43 provided on its hem 44, to which the ends of its wiring sections 45 and 46 are respectively connected.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an alternative arrangement including means whereby two or more panels provided with heating wiring can be electrically connected to the same source of electric current. A sinuously arranged heating wire 50 is secured to one face of a panel 51 in a manner similar to that described above. A male electrical connector 52 is located at one side edge of the panel, and a female electrical connector 53 is located at the other side edge. A pair of electrical conductors 54 and 55 electrically interconnect the connectors 52 and 53. One end of the heating Wiring 50 is connected to the conductor 54 and the other end is connected to the conductor 55, so that the heating wiring is arranged in parallel with the conductors between the connectors 52 and 53.

Thus, if one of the connectors, say the male connector 52 is connected to a source of electric current, current will flow through the heating wiring 50. In addition, current from the source will be available at female connector 53. Consequently, should it be desired to energize the heating wiring 57 of another panel 58, the male connector 59 of the panel 58 is simply inserted into the female connector 53 of panel 51. Obviously, a third panel (not shown) can be energized by simply inserting its male connector into the female connector 60 of panel 58. It will be appreciated that by means of this arrangement, every panel can be made identical to every other panel, and as many panels as desired can be interconnected. Preferably, the connectors 52 and 53, and the conductors 54 and 55 are located within the hem 61 along the lower edge of the panel; however, for the sake of clarity they are shown above the hem in FIG. 7.

'By the means hereindes'cribed, one or more panels can be provided with the heating wires, and when any such lining panel is fitted in position with its inner face disposed toward the drapery, the wiring will be wholly concealed between the drapery and the lining, yet will generate appreciable heat. The provision of the wiring within the thread-pockets is such that no fastening or mounting means for the wiring is visible on the exposed face of the drapery so that the presence of the wiring is not apparent.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only, and .by way of example, and many variations maybe made in the invention which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is understood, therefore, that the invention isnot limited to any specific form of embodiment except insofar as such limitations are included in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A drapery lining comprising a panel composed of a single layer of woven fabric, said panel having apertures at spaced horizontal intervals along its upper edge for engagement with suspension pins which support the drapery whereby said panel can be suspended adjacent to the drapery with its inner face toward the rear face of the drapery, a length of heating wiring arranged sinuously across the inner face of said panel to thereby position such wiring between said panel and the drapery, a male electrical connector located at one side edge of said panel, a female electrical connector located at the other side edge of said panel, the ends of said heating wiring being electrically connected to one of said connectors for receiving electric current from a source connected to said one connector, and wiring interconnecting said two connectors whereby electric current from a source connected to said one connector is available at the other of said connectors so that when one of the connectors of another identical panel is connected to said other connector electric current will flow through the heating wiring of the identical panel.

2. A drapery lining as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting wiring and said heating wiring are arranged in parallel between said electrical connectors.

3. A drapery lining comprising a panel composed of a single layer of woven fabric, said panel having apertures at spaced horizontal intervals along its upper edge for engagement with suspension pins which support the drapery whereby said panel can be suspended adjacent to the drapery with its inner face toward the rear face of the drapery, a length of heating wiring arranged sinuously across the inner face of said panel to thereby position such wiring between said panel and the drapery, means formed by the threads from which said panel is woven for holding said wiring against the inner face of said panel, an electrical connect-or connected to said heating wiring and located adjacent one side edge of said panel whereby electric current may be supplied to said heating Wiring, said length of wiring being interrupted and having spaced ends defining the interruption, said ends being provided with fastening elements located adjacent the opposite side edge of said panel, a removably applicable bridge member for spanning the spacing between said f-astening elements, said bridge member having fastening elements for coupling with those of the wiring, and a con ductor connecting the fastening elements on the bridge member,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,358,509 11/ 1 920 Birkenfeld 219--211 2,277,772 3/ 1942 Marick 219-211 2,456,468 12/ 1948 Theodore 219-212 2,462, 847 3/1949 Daly 219549 2,469,466 5/1949 Herrington 219201 2,521,540 9/1950 Richardson 2l9545 2,842,655 7/ 195 8 Schwebel 219- 527 2,942,330 6/1960 Luke 29-1555 2,990,607 7/ 1916 1 Negromanti 29155.5, 3,047,060 7/ 1962 Heim berg -3 30 3,141,954 7/ 1964 RIOHARD M. wooD, Primary Examiner. v. Y. MAYEWS-KY, Assistant Examiner.

Simon 219-201 1 

1. A DRAPERY LINING COMPRISING A PANEL COMPOSED OF A SINGLE LAYER OF WOVEN FABRIC, SAID PANEL HAVING APERTURES AT SPACED HORIZONTAL INTERVALS ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SUSPENSION PINS WHICH SUPPORT THE DRAPERY WHEREBY SAID PANEL CAN BE SUSPENED ADJACENT TO THE DRAPERY WITH ITS INNER FACE TOWARD THE REAR FACE OF THE DRAPERY, A LENGTH OF HEATING WIRING ARRANGED SINUOUSLY ACROSS THE INNER FACE OF SAID PANEL TO THEREBY POSITION SUCH WIRING BETWEEN SAID PANEL AND THE DRAPERY, A MALE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED AT THE OTHER SIDE A FEMALE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED AT THE OTHER SIDE EDGE OF SAID PANEL, THE ENDS OF SAID HEATING WIRING BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID CONNECTORS FOR RECEICING ELECTRIC CURRENT FROM A SOURCE CONNECTED TO SAID ONE CONNECTOR, AND WIRING INTERCONNECTING SAID TWO CONNECTORS WHEREBY ELECTRIC CURRENT FROM A SOURCE CONNECTED TO SAID ONE CONNECTOR IS A AVAILABLE AT THE OTHER OF SAID CONNECTORS SO THAT WHEN ONE OF THE CONNECTORS OF ANOTHER INDENTICAL PANEL IS CONNECTED TO SAID OTHER CONNECTOR ELECTRIC CURRENT WILL FLOW THROUGH THE HEATING WIRING OF THE INDENTICAL PANEL. 